Warsaw. 30 years ago the first metro line was opened

It was just over 11 kilometers long and 11 stations. She allowed to get from Ursynów and Mokotów to South Śródmieście. Passengers took 14 Soviet trains (the Soviet Union itself was already dead). On Friday, April 7, 1995, the first metro episode in Warsaw was opened.

The opening was attended by members of the government, headed by Prime Minister Józef Oleksy, Senate Marshal Adam Struzik, local government authorities, metro builders and foreign diplomats. Despite the invitation to the ceremony, General Wojciech Jaruzelski did not arrive, who in 1982 issued the Metro construction order.

Primate Glemp took care of “Divine Care”

– Warsaw obtains a fast, safe and ecologically clean means of transport that will contribute to the development of the city – said the president of Warsaw Marcin Święcicki. The readiness of the first section of the metro was registered to the President General Director of Construction Bohdan Zuń.

Prime Minister Józef Oleksy reminded that the Warsaw metro is not only the capital, but also the central investment. – I hope that today will seal the irreversibility of this investment – added the prime minister.

Primate Józef Glemp dedicated Metro to – as he said – “direct human work under divine care.” Assisted by President Święcicki and Prime Minister Oleksy, the reservation designer of Warsaw communication prof. Jan Podoski.

Then the official guests and passengers stocked with passes got into two trains that drove away in opposite directions.

Ceremonial opening of the first section of the metro

Last station: Empty field on Kabaty

For the first three days you could travel for free. Instead of going for a walk, many Varsovians preferred to go on a subway journey. The view of the final Kabaty station was amazing. It went out to the empty field, and the Kabacki forest loomed on the horizon. Today this place has changed beyond recognition. Where to see the eye can be seen are apartment blocks and service points.

At the beginning, the metro ran every day from 4.30-23.30 on weekdays, on Saturdays, Sundays and on holidays from 4.45 to 23.00. The trains drove every 6-8 minutes, and in peak hours every 4 minutes.

“In the subway, the same tickets as in other public transport vehicles apply from Monday. When using ground and subway, a one -time ticket (for PLN 0.80) should be deleted twice – on one side on the bus or tram, on the other, on the other at the subway. At the combined crossing, one journey is for free. It is to encourage the use of the new means of transport in Warsaw.” Monthly tickets were also important in the subway.

A one -time ticket can also be bought from uniformed controllers at metro stations. Tickets had to be deleted before entering the platform, in validators installed at the entrances to the station. There were no goals yet.

– In connection with the commissioning of the metro, the bus routes will not be changed, and the number of wagons running – assured the then director of the Municipal Transport Board Kazimierz Kulig. Possible changes were to take place after about three months.

Congkeeper was more feared than a fire

Metro services – in addition to controllers, also driver and station duty officers – they had dark gray uniforms and corners with red rim and red ties.

“At the subway stations, smoking is prohibited. Order on mezzanines, platforms and stairs and elevators is guarded by metro employees with cameras. They can reprimand the regulations violating the regulations through a megaphone. There is a police station at each station, the metro police station is located at the Politechnika station” – travelers were observed.

Commander of the underground police nadkom. Józef Kąkolewski then reported that 200 policemen work at the police station and stations at all stations. – They will serve in the subway at night, when the trains do not run. The platform of each station will patrol at least two officers – he assured.

All policemen were specially trained in the fight against pickpockets. The police station had constant communication with the metro dispatcher.

– There is nothing to ignite in the Warsaw subway – assured the spokesperson of the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Warsaw, Brig. Dariusz Malinowski.

– Tunnels are made of iron. The stations are made of stone, metal and glass, and he described wagons of non -flammable material. If a fire is formed, it can only be caused by passengers. However, firefighters were to be prepared for a possible fire in all commands along the queue.

The director of the then General Directorate for the Construction of the Metro Bohdan Zuń declared that he had an industrial guard, cursory television, fire -fighting system and emergency brigades. The guard, with 80 officers equipped with gas and acute weapons, protected all closed objects.

The ending station and Kabaty Power Plant was guarded by guards with dogs.

– The city guard will only operate at the top, above the metro stations, not on the platforms – said spokesman for this service Sławomir Lamowski. – We will make sure that the escape routes are free all the time so that the rescue services can get to the station at any time. From the beginning, we want to get drivers from any parking near these stations – the spokesman added.

Subsequent metro lines are planned

In 2025, there are two metro lines with 38 stations in Warsaw. The M1 line is 23 kilometers, and M2 19 kilometers. Construction of another four kilometers is underway.

The Warsaw metro stations were in the electrical songs of guitars or Taco Hemingway.

The Wilsona Square station was recognized as one of the prettiest in the world, winning the “Metrorail” conference in 2008. In 2014, she was in the CNN ranking as one of the 12 most impressive metro stations in Europe.

The Młynów station was awarded with the title Leader of Availability in 2021, awarded by the Association of Friends of Integration together with the Society of Polish Urban planners.

By 2027, projects of the first stage of the M3 line to Gocław are to be made. Also in 2027, the concept and pre -project work for the M4 line and the possibility of announcing the tender for the line design are to be ready.

From Russian trains of the 81 series, which was served 30 years ago, the metro is currently exploited by one, the oldest composition. In addition to him, passengers take 18 Metropolis trains, 35 Siemenns Inspiro trains and 37 Skoda Varsovia trains.